Getting pregnant after a one-night stand with my brother’s best friend was never part of the plan.
We’re talking about Foster Davis here. Chicago Colts closing pitcher. The broody king of one-word answers. And the man everyone knows keeps one foot out the door.
Surprisingly, when two pink lines turn my world upside down, Foster doesn’t run. He steps in, he shows up, and he insists we do this together.
Pretending we’re fine is easy. Pretending this is just about the baby? Not so much.
Because Foster is gentle when no one’s watching. Because he looks at me like I’m something worth protecting. Because the walls he’s built start to crack—and I’m the one he’s letting inside.
Our arrangement was supposed to be simple. Boundaries were set. Co-parents and no catching feelings.
Okay, maybe a few sex lessons were added in too. Bad idea, I know.
Because the more time I spend with Foster Davis, the harder it is to remember why I ever thought he was the risky choice.
(ARC Read)
Piper Rayne absolutely delivered with The Wild Card. This book was so much more than I expected, and I found myself completely wrapped up in Foster and Callie’s story from the very beginning.
What starts as a one-night stand with her brother’s broody, tattooed best friend quickly turns into something neither of them planned for—two pink lines and a future neither of them saw coming. And honestly? I was fully prepared for Foster Davis to panic and run. He’s the emotionally guarded closer for the Chicago Colts, known for one-word answers, keeping his distance, and never letting anyone get too close.
But he doesn’t run.
He stays.
And that’s where this story really takes hold.
“I can’t promise I’m going to be good at fatherhood. I’m going to fuck up, but I can make one promise to you that I’ll never break…they’ll always come first in my life. Always.”
Because beneath Foster’s gruff, broody exterior is a man who shows love quietly, through actions, through patience, through showing up when it matters most. Watching him step into this unexpected situation, not just for the baby but for Callie, was incredibly rewarding. He’s protective without being overbearing, gentle when no one else is watching, and the way he slowly lets Callie see the real version of him? That emotional unraveling hit hard.
And then there’s the dynamic between them, which I absolutely loved.
The turning of the tables with Callie giving Foster sex lessons was such a fun and refreshing twist. It wasn’t about inexperience, Foster has had plenty of physical relationships, but intimacy is something he’s never allowed himself to experience. With Callie, everything changes. He wants to slow down, to learn what she likes, to take his time, and to connect in a way that scares him more than anything else.
“What do you say, Callie Carlisle, will you be my sex instructor?”
That balance of power between them was beautiful. There’s strength on both sides, vulnerability on both sides, and it made their relationship feel earned and deeply satisfying. And honestly? A man who wants to take the time, patience, and care to learn what makes his woman melt, that’s hard not to fall for.
Foster also quietly proves himself as the ultimate acts-of-service guy, finding guests for Callie’s podcast, showing up to every appointment, making sure she feels safe and supported. No one else gets to see this side of him, and that made their connection feel even more special.
Both Callie and Foster carry wounds from their pasts—her from previous relationships, him from complicated family dynamics—and watching them slowly break down their walls together added so much emotional depth to the story. Their journey isn’t smooth or perfect. It’s messy, complicated, and very real, which made their eventual growth feel even more meaningful.
“You have to fight for yourself, Foster. You need to realize you deserve this. You deserve to have Callie love you. This isn’t about fighting for Callie. She already wants to be yours. But you have to work on you.”
Foster Davis may be the tattooed bad boy of baseball, but underneath all those layers is a man who’s quietly soft, fiercely loyal, and completely deserving of love. And Callie? She’s strong, relatable, and full of heart, the perfect person to challenge him and help him finally let someone in. Their story was emotional, tender, spicy, and incredibly satisfying. Watching them find comfort, trust, and vulnerability in each other, especially Foster, made this one unforgettable.
But honestly? The spicy lessons were my favorite part of the entire book.
There was something so compelling about watching the dynamic shift. Callie taking control, Foster practically begging for more, and the two of them slowly blurring the lines they swore they wouldn’t cross. What starts as physical quickly turns into something deeper, more intimate, and way more emotional than either of them expected. Because it was never just about the sex (although it definitely helped)—it was about trust, patience, and learning each other in a way neither of them had ever experienced before.
And watching Foster Davis, the broody, emotionally guarded closer, willingly hand over that control and ask for more?
Yeah…that might have been my favorite part of all.
Release Date: April 2nd, 2026
Thank you to Piper Rayne and Valentine PR & Literary Management for the ARC read!